The Double
Chapter 235 - 235 102 End of the Play_3

235: Chapter 102: End of the Play_3 235: Chapter 102: End of the Play_3 “You deserve it, I’m just puzzled.

If you are so wise, why were you banished by your stepmother to Green City Mountain eight years ago?” he asked with a smile.

“Success or failure is often out of our hands.

I was just unlucky,” Jiang Li smiled and said, “Besides, eight years ago I was only seven.

Duke, comparing the seven-year-old me to who I am now is rather harsh.

Fortune doesn’t always favor the same person.

Eight years ago, my luck was poor, but as the saying goes, ‘Fortune turns like a wheel, and today it’s come to my house.’ ” She spoke lightly with a smile.

“Then I’ll wait and see.”

Jiang Li nodded to him with a smile.

By this time, Jih Heng had finally returned her jade pendant to her.

Jiang Li bowed to him again, “Today’s play was quite wonderful, and now I should take my leave.

I’m deeply grateful to the Duke for coming to my rescue earlier,” she said.

“No need for thanks,” Jih Heng laughed, “After all, even without me, Miss Jiang the Second could have made it out safely, couldn’t she?”

Jiang Li’s eyes grew sharp for a moment, then she smiled and said, “Still, my thanks are in order.” She bowed again to Jih Heng before calmly turning to leave.

After Jiang Li’s figure disappeared outside the courtyard, Wen Ji appeared behind Jih Heng, “My lord, the people from the Golden Mansion…”

“Don’t let anyone die,” Jih Heng commanded as he flicked his fan.

“After the interrogation, send her back to her master.”

Wen Ji acknowledged the order and then asked, “What about Miss Jiang the Second…”

“Keep an eye on her,” Jih Heng said.

“The Head of the Weaving Department will be arriving soon.

I really want to see how she plays out this drama.”

Wen Ji fell silent, pondering deeply about the day’s events he had witnessed from beginning to end.

A fifteen-year-old girl, Jiang Li, facing an assassin from the Golden Mansion, showed a momentary panic but quickly regained her composure, appearing utterly fearless afterward.

Wen Ji and his men also noticed that Jiang Li frequently reached into her sleeve, showing she never intended to sit and wait for death even in the most perilous moments.

She was accustomed to concealing her backup plans, making thorough preparations for everything, just as Jih Heng had said; even if Jih Heng hadn’t intervened today, Jiang Li might well have escaped unharmed.

Wen Ji looked toward Jih Heng, whose smile had now disappeared.

When he ceased smiling, the gentleness and pity vanished, replaced by cold indifference and callousness that could chill one to the bone.

Yet Miss Jiang the Second was not afraid of him and matched him move for move, truly not so simple…

…

When Jiang Li returned to the Ye family’s courtyard, both Tonger and Bai Xue were startled.

Her dress hem was stained with fine droplets of fresh blood, probably splattered from the assassin.

“Miss, what happened?

Are you hurt anywhere?” Tonger anxiously circled around, looking to inspect Jiang Li’s wounds.

“It’s not my blood,” Jiang Li reassured her, “I’m going to change my clothes; don’t mention this incident to anyone else.”

Though Tonger and Bai Xue were worried, seeing Jiang Li’s serious expression, they could only nod in agreement.

Jiang Li sighed with relief, changed her outfit, and sat down in a chair, where Bai Xue handed her a cup of hot tea.

The two maidservants had no idea what had occurred.

Wasn’t she just speaking with Ye Mingyu at the gate not more than a Shichen ago?

How could such an extraordinary event have taken place?

After drinking some hot tea, Jiang Li felt her heart gradually calm down.

She had intended to gauge Jih Heng’s depth today, yet she stumbled upon the Golden Mansion’s attempted assassination of Jih Heng, which suggested that Xiangyang was not entirely peaceful.

Those people were decidedly aiming for Jih Heng, and there was no significant connection between her and Jih Heng, but to others, it might seem they were closely linked.

If they turned their sights on her, that would be a truly unwarranted disaster.

With the Ye Family’s issues still unresolved and carrying the Xue Family’s blood debt on her shoulders, she did not wish to complicate matters further.

It was best to keep her distance from him.

Once affairs in Xiangyang were settled, upon returning to Yanjing City, it would be best to avoid any dealings with Jih Heng.

A man who concealed his intentions too deeply and seemed to carry no small amount of secrets was better kept at a distance.

“Today is already the seventh day…” she murmured to herself.

It had been seven days since she had left a message at the entrance of Lizheng Hall, and considering the letter to Ye Shijie she had written before that, the people from the Head of the Weaving Department should be arriving within these two days.

With the arrival of the officials from the Weaving Department and the concubine in the hands of others, Tong Zhiyang would not dare to interfere.

At least things for the Ye Family would not get worse, and even if the Right Chancellor was behind the schemes, the Ye Family would be temporarily safe due to their connection with the Jiang Family.

Besides the Ye Family affairs, her most important objective in coming to Xiangyang was for Xue Huaiyuan.

She wondered how Qiongzhi’s inquiries at the Cherish Flower Tower were coming along.

With time pressing, she would need to find an opportunity to return to Xiangyang herself.